suburbs to take blue line (Arlington Heights, Schaumburg: appointed, apartments, house)

[greasycheeseburgers]

Hi.
I need to take the blue line to the airport, what suburbs would be best?

[Lookout Kid]

The Blue Line serves only Rosemont on the airport side, and Oak Park/Forest Park on the other terminus (a very long ride away). The rest is within the city limits. It's not really a suburban transit system.

[chitown85]

There is discussion of extending the blue line through Elk Grove Village and Schaumburg.

[meatpuff]

Originally Posted by chitown85

There is discussion of extending the blue line through Elk Grove Village and Schaumburg.

Well, greasy, there it is. I recommend moving to Schaumburg. Then, go to law school and focus on public policy issues. Next, run for elected office; I would start with something easy, like State Rep or State Senator. Get appointed to a key committee and you should be rising fast. Now, after building your political brand, run for U.S. House of Representatives and win. Be sure to play ball with the powers that be and earn some favors. Eventually your time will come when they need your vote on a big tax or foreign policy bill. When the Speaker calls to rustle up your vote, just say "I guess I could go along with it, IF..." Then demand an earmark for the Blue Line extension be placed in the next omnibus transportation bill, and Bob's your uncle.

Try to steer it within walking distance of your house, or else have them put a Park and Ride stop at the end of it as a last resort.

[chitown85]

If it was so easy to be a State Rep I would have done it a long time ago.

[chet everett]

There are other ways to O'Hare. One good option is simply to take the OTHER rail line that goes to O'Hare:
Metra / North Central Service Schedules

Basically any of the towns closer to O'Hare than about Buffalo Grove make for a decent commute to the O'Hare Transfer stop.

Alternatively, if you feel you MUST ride the Blue Line and you MUST live in a suburb, parts of Park Ridge are within walking distance of the El, and you can take a short bus trip to the Blue Line from most parts of Norridge & Harwood Heights.

[noid_1985]

depends where you're coming from....if you are coming from the near west suburbs you could take the 325 Pace north to the Rosemont station and hop on the blue line from there. It's about a 30min ride opposed to a 2hr one from Forest Park

[greasycheeseburgers]

Ok. I am relocating from Florida, and will be flying out of the airport on a regular/weekly basis. Where should I live?

[chitown85]

If you want suburbs your only choices are Rosemont or near Rosemont, specifically Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, or very southern Arlington Heights.

The traffic to O'Hare from anywhere else can be a nightmare. The closer you are the better. Rosemont's apartments are not very nice, so I would look to Elk Grove Village or one of the others.

If those fail, look to Schaumburg, which is nice and still close enough.

[oakparkdude]

Since you're looking for "hip" areas and want to pay less than $1000 (according to your other posts) you might consider Oak Park. If you live near the downtown area, you can catch the Harlem Ave CTA bus which will take you to the Harlem Ave blue line stop where you can transfer to the train to O'hare. You can get a small apartment with parking in your price range. Oak Park isn't as "hip" and "cool" as Wicker Park, but it beats most other suburbs in this respect.